Spanner Banner to release EP and album

With major hits like Life Goes On, Live And Learn and Michelle in the 1990s, reggae singer Spanner Banner is planning to make a new mark with his upcoming EP and album.

While he is yet to decide on a name for the EP, he said it will be released within a month and is expected to have seven songs. Some of the confirmed songs for the EP are Love Is A Champion, Raise Of Pay and Happiness.

He explained that the EP is merely a teaser.

"Right now I am working on the album. It's been four years since I have an album out so instead of waiting till the album finish, I just want to give the fans something to listen to while they wait on the album," said Spanner Banner, who tied the knot with his manager, Suzie Q last year.

As for the EP, he said it is "just something new from Spanner Banner and we try to do our best and leave it to the audience to decide."

Spanner Banner also explained that although the album is incomplete, it will be ready in time for his European tour in the summer with Duane Stephenson. He is still taking dates for that tour.

Though his previous album, I Am A Winner, released in 2009, and other albums like Now and Forever, Chill, Lover's Story, Real Love and Clean Up Your Actions, released between 1994 and 2008, showed growth, Spanner Banner says his new effort will show even more.

"It is just a more mature Spanner Banner, a more mature side. The album will consist of more lovers rock and a few reality songs. There will be no collaborations on the EP, but for the album we might have a few guests artistes," he told The Sunday Gleaner.

And with time still left to finish both the EP and album, Spanner Banner has high expectations.

"I am expecting it to go to Billboard, but we just leave it to Jah," he said.